Have you ever seen a lion bark? I certainly have, at least in Let’s Build A Zoo. There’s chaos around every corner. Not to mention wacky characters ready to shake up your virtual zoo. This game isn’t only about cute animals; it’s about the choices you make and your impact on the world.
On September 29, 2022, Let’s Build A Zoo by “Springloaded” and published by “No More Robots” was uncaged and charmed players into it’s tiny world. Two DLCs included a sprawling aquarium and death-defying dinosaur island that expanded the chaos and lured players back to their screens.
Detail-oriented players will love juggling animal needs, staff and their finances while designing their animal paradise (or prison) tree by tree. Rule breakers will enjoy the freedom to wreak havoc. And let’s face it, everyone will love those cute animals, especially when they are so tiny.
Every choice impacts the in-game world, unlocking events, rewards and consequences. One question looms over it all: will you choose profit over the animals in your care?
Death and Destruction: The Consequences Of Your Choices
Extinction isn’t just a word, it’s a looming threat in Let’s Build A Zoo. While cute animals bounce on trampolines, players are faced with tough moral dilemmas. You can clone animals, breed them or release them into the wild. Release too few, and your efforts will be wasted as they fail to survive outside the zoo.
Bored of the same old animals? Use your CRISPR to make a hybrid. Not quite what you expected? You can always release it into the wild. What a terrible day to have eyes…
The game also tackles real-world issues head-on. Polluted oceans, overfishing and habitat destruction feature prominently in the Aquarium DLC. Every decision is a reminder that our actions have real effects both the in-game and real world.
Despite the chaos, Let’s Build A Zoo encourages reflection. The consequences of your choices are shown through newspapers, quests, and events. Trust me: you do not want to steal a little girl’s dog.
But There Is Hope: Small Choices Can Change The World
While extinction and loss loom, Let’s Build A Zoo empowers players to make a difference. Lost dogs can be returned to their families, polluted oceans can be cleaned and extinct species can be reintroduced to the wild. Even in a pixelated world, the smallest choices have an impact.
Your zoo isn’t just a collection of animals but a chance to revive dying ecosystems. By supporting conservation and reintroduction efforts, players can see real change unfold. Players are rewarded with exclusive gameplay elements that follow the choices you’ve made. Thoughtful players end with not only a functional zoo, but with a world slightly better than how they found it.
Hope isn’t just a theme in Let’s Build A Zoo, it’s a mechanic. Even after mistakes or chaos, you can chart a new course toward recovery. The animals, the consequences and the in-game world respond to your actions, reminding players that positive change can always happen if your willing to make it.
The Soundtrack: The Music About You
The soundtrack of Let’s Build A Zoo is as memorable as the game itself. While it is skilled at provoking discomfort and unease, it also excels at prompting reflection and comfort. Each track mirrors the games moral dilemmas and consequences, reflecting the weight of your choices while immersing you in the zoo’s world.
We Are All Dead, Because Of You
Until this point, the soundtrack has been upbeat, but this tracks shifts the tone dramatically. Sharp, lingering notes invoke a deep sense of loss and pain. Through overhunting, habitat loss or player actions, extinction no longer looms, but exists. The song is a haunting reminder of the consequences your choices can have.
We Are All Dead, Because Of You (But There Is Hope)
The follow-up soundtrack balances loss with optimism. Low notes voice the harm and loss that already exist while the high notes voice the optimist, signaling that change is possible. This optimism reflects your ability to restore endangered species, clean polluted oceans, and repair the world you’ve impacted. Even after destruction, recovery is always possible, should you choose to act.
I Stole A Dog (And For That I Should Never Be Forgiven)
Not only have you stolen a dog, you are now presenting that dog as a lion. There are many questions I could ask but the most important is: what is wrong with you?
The track reflects the morally questionable choice a player might make regarding a lost dog. Short abrupt notes, interrupted by longer, lingering tones mirror the decision you’ve made. The short notes represent the player’s selfishness, choosing themselves over the dog and its owner while long notes echo the long-term harm of that choice.
Only Love Will Remain
Following behind I Stole A Dog, this track’s upbeat tone is a welcome change. Love triumphs over profit as the dog is saved from life as a lion. Not only does the player’s choice provide emotional relief, it also safeguards the zoo from controversy, showing how thoughtful decisions ripple outward.
I’d Like To Die Here
Near the end of the first soundtrack lies this track. Gentle guitar strums, soft piano notes, and a slow tempo create a sense of peace in an otherwise chaotic game. It conveys a sense of finality and contentment, reminiscent of a late summer’s day. Choosing to protect your animals gives the sense of having created a safe haven, a reward for the players compassionate, thoughtful choices.
Conclusion: Your Zoo, Your Choices
Let’s Build A Zoo presents a cute yet intricate system of exploring your moral choices. The smallest decisions impact the in-game world in big ways. Whether your actions are for better or worse, the soundtrack will ensure that each consequence is felt throughout your playtime. From cloning hybrids to stealing dogs, Let’s Build A Zoo is a moral playground that keeps players engaged for hours.
No matter your playstyle, Let’s Build A Zoo is thought-provoking, leaving players questioning the impact of their decisions. One decision at a time, the player will shape their zoo (and world) using the power given to them by the developers. Will you choose chaos, or compassion? That choice lies with you.
But for the good of all of us: please return the dog.
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